The Miami police officer who was caught on camera pinning NFL star Tyreek Hill face-down on a sidewalk had a troubled history of aggressive encounters with civilians, including once “tightly grabbing” a woman by the arm and “hit her against the hood.” ' from his police car.
Officer Danny Torres, who is on administrative duty after the September incident with the Dolphins wide receiver, has racked up multiple suspensions for confrontations that turned physical.
A civilian, Héctor Montalbán, who had a confrontation with Torres in 2018, said he was not surprised to see the officer in the spotlight again.
'Police officers are there to protect and serve. “This guy is not up to that,” Montalbán said. NBCMiami in an exclusive interview.
During that encounter, Torres allegedly demanded Montalbán's driver's license and then cited him for having a “mutilated license,” even though Montalbán claimed the license was not damaged when he gave it to him.
Torres' history of troubling behavior also includes multiple incidents involving the use of force with women.
In one particularly shocking incident from 2015, Torres allegedly used force against a woman, all because she muttered that the officers were “idiots” who wouldn't solve anything.
According to internal affairs records obtained by NBC Miami, Torres had been called to the scene to address a disagreement involving a family.
Danny Torres (pictured) has been suspended “multiple times” in the past. A civilian, Héctor Montalbán, who had a confrontation with Torres in 2018, said he was not surprised to see the officer in the spotlight again.
The officer's pattern of behavior came to light after his encounter with Hill, where body cameras captured Torres forcibly removing the NFL star from his vehicle before a game at Hard Rock Stadium.
As the family was leaving, a sister allegedly called the officers “idiots.”
According to a complaint obtained by the media, Torres 'forcefully grabbed (the sister) by her right arm and slammed her against the hood' of his police car.
Witnesses stated that Torres acted immediately after being insulted.
Torres and another officer claimed that the sister resisted arrest when she was detained for disorderly conduct, requiring force to secure the handcuffs.
It was then that Torres 'forcefully grabbed (that sister) by the right arm and slammed her against the hood' of a patrol car, handcuffed her and put her in the patrol car, causing visible bruises, the complaint states. A witness said Torres acted at the time when the sister called Torres a 'fucking idiot.'
“I don't wake up every damn morning for someone to call me an asshole,” Torres allegedly told the woman's sister during the incident, which resulted in a five-day sentence. suspension.
But that wasn't the only time Torres' encounters with women turned violent.
In another incident from 2014, he was accused of breaking through a metal door to confront a man who had simply cursed at him.
During this confrontation, Torres allegedly pushed the man's wife and pulled a fence gate with such force that it fell, resulting in a cut finger and a bruise to the head.
A witness backed up the couple's account, stating that Torres even “hit the chest” of her husband during the heated exchange.
Torres denied these accusations in his statement to investigators.
He admitted that they “got very close” and asked the tenant, “What are you going to do?”
Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill is forced to the ground after being handcuffed.
Officials pinned the wide receiver to the ground before the Dolphins' season opener.
The officer's pattern of behavior came to light after his encounter with Hill, where body cameras captured Torres forcibly removing the NFL star from his vehicle before a game at Hard Rock Stadium.
The department's own disciplinary report noted that Torres' “pattern of behavior indicates that you have repeatedly failed to comply with departmental rules and procedures,” warranting a 10-day suspension in 2019.
Records released by the department show he was also given two other suspensions in 2017 for incidents in 2014 and 2015.
There is even a 20-day suspension listed in 2018, with multiple written reprimands also on his record, although no details of these incidents have been released.
According to police records obtained by TMZTorres has received several complaints since joining the Miami-Dade Police Department in 1996.
It has been claimed that he was accused of misconduct on six occasions, including force violations and improper procedures, while there have also been at least 13 investigations into his excessive use of force.
He has also received some positive praise (more than two dozen), and was given an award for his professionalism in May 2023.
The Miami Dolphins star has called for Torres to be fired and believes he was too harsh on him during the incident.
'After a careful and thorough review of the multiple body cameras and videos from concerned citizens that captured the unfortunate events that occurred on Sunday, September 8, 2024 between several Miami Dade Police Department officers and Tyreek Hill, we demand the immediate dismissal of the officer who has been placed on administrative leave,” Hill said in a statement through attorney Julius B. Collins.
Shocking videos showed Hill handcuffed and restrained on the ground after he was pulled over for speeding, while one officer even appeared to punch him on the sidewalk.
When he was violently detained by police, several of Hill's teammates stopped to try to calm the situation, only for defensive tackle Calais Campbell to be briefly handcuffed.
In the shocking footage, police officers could be heard telling Hill to “stop crying,” as the NFL star said, “Take me to jail…do what you have to do.”
In one particularly shocking incident from 2015, Torres allegedly “grabbed” a woman by the arm and “slammed her against the hood” of his police car, all because she muttered that the officers were “idiots” who wouldn't solve anything. .
Police citations stated that Hill was stopped because he was believed to be driving 60 mph in a 40 mph zone, without wearing a seat belt. He was fined a combined total of $308.
'On at least two occasions, the ascending officer placed his hands on or around Mr. Hill's neck during the traffic stop. “After Mr. Hill was forcibly removed from his vehicle by this officer, this officer placed him face down on the pavement,” Hill’s statement from his attorney added.
The officer then placed his knee on Mr. Hill's back and his hand around the back of Mr. Hill's neck. `
'Once Mr. Hill was handcuffed and stood on the sidewalk, after being told to sit down, Mr. Hill notified the requesting officer of his intention to do so and there again, the same officer from before grabs Mr. Hill from behind. and forces him to fall to the ground.
'As he did so, the officer again placed his hand on or around Mr Hill's neck.
'Even as Mr. Hill informed the officer that a procedure had been performed on his knee, the officer ignored his statement and continued to escalate his use of force.
'Every action a law enforcement official takes is governed by standard operating procedures. We are of the opinion that the use of force by the agents was excessive, escalating and reckless. “We demand that the officer be fired with immediate effect.”